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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Feds: Blago Extorted Hospital Honcho

Guv planned to seek campaign cash in return for state funding

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(Newser) – The Rod Blagojevich scandal extends beyond politics to medicine, the Chicago Tribune reports. He threatened to withhold $8 million in state funding for a pediatric health initiative unless the head of Children’s Memorial Hospital gave his campaign $50,000, according to the federal criminal complaint against the Illinois governor. "Children's Memorial is very disappointed" at being dragged into the story, the institution said in a statement.

Thomas Wiffler, CEO UnitedHealthcare Chicago, Kimberly Thormann, CMH APN, Bonnie Barnes, co-founder DAISY Foundation, Michelle Stephenson, CMH chief nurse executive, and Patrick Magoon, CMH CEO.
Thomas Wiffler, CEO UnitedHealthcare Chicago, Kimberly Thormann, CMH APN, Bonnie Barnes, co-founder DAISY Foundation, Michelle Stephenson, CMH chief nurse executive, and Patrick Magoon, CMH CEO.   (Photo: Business Wire)
A Nov. 5, 2008 file photo shows Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich at a news conference in Chicago.
A Nov. 5, 2008 file photo shows Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich at a news conference in Chicago.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald talks about the criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges during a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald talks about the criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges during a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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Children's Memorial is very disappointed that the $8 million in funding that the pediatric providers of Illinois believed would enable them to care for Illinois' neediest children has been tied to an alleged pay-for-play scheme. - Hospital statement

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Newser001
Dec 11, 08 1:49 PM CST
What a pig! Impeachment is the ONLY answer. Censure immediately, for now - we can't just let this schmuck resign and walk away. Clearly a lame duck and another dark page in American politics. Reply
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corruption • extortion • Illinois • children's health care • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal

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